Media Listing June 2014

GLOBAL:

Focus on Migration: The downside of polio vaccine checks: The World Health Organization wants those leaving polio-hit nations to prove they are vaccinated but mandating vaccination certificates could cause problems for migrants. To mitigate this, vaccination facilities for refugees could be one alternative solution. (SciDevNet – 5/06/14).

Human Rights Council holds interactive dialogue on trafficking of persons: During the interactive dialogue the Special Rapporteur said challenges of particular concern to the international community include the need to provide a more cohesive interpretation of what constituted trafficking in persons, strengthening accountability of State and non-State actors, involving civil society organizations in all aspects of anti-trafficking efforts, improving compliance mechanisms, and closing the worrying gap between the obligation of States and their implementation in practice. (OHCHR News – 13/06/14)

New manual to check immigration detention conditions launched: The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), together with the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) and the International Detention Coalition (IDC) launched a practical manual on the monitoring of immigration detention. The publication is a response to an increasing tendency by governments, in many parts of the world, to place asylum-seekers and migrants – families and children included – behind bars. People fleeing for their lives find themselves in maximum security prisons or detained under other conditions that are unsuitable to their particular situation. The manual can be accessed on RMMS’s sector publications’page. (UNHCR Press releases – 16/06/14)

UNHCR releases ‘Beyond Detention’: UNHCR unveils its global strategy (2014 -2019) to support governments to end the detention of asylum-seekers and refugees. The strategy will work towards addressing some of the main challenges and concerns around governmental detention policies and practices. The report can be accessed on RMMS’s sector publications’ page. (UNHCR – 16/06/14)

USA releases global Trafficking in Persons report 2014: The US Department of State places each country onto one of four tiers according to the action the respective government is taking to combat trafficking. The action is measured according to the government's compliance with the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act's minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking, which are generally consistent with the Palermo Protocol. The report can be accessed on RMMS’s sector publications’ page. (20/06/14)

A fresh start for climate change refugees: The Nansen Initiative seeks to develop “a protection agenda addressing the needs of people displaced across international borders by natural hazards, including the effects of climate change.” The initiative argues that current planning mechanisms on climate change, both national and international, are insufficient. The body argues for more effective early warning for extreme climatic events, better water management, more sustained efforts to reduce pressure on fragile environments and the need for the protection of affected populations. (IRIN News – 12/06/14)

Displaced persons in Eastern Africa fall to 9.6 mln: UN: As of March 2014, there were 9,573,092 people displaced in Burundi, (eastern) Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. This represents a decrease of 328,066 individuals since the end of September 2013. [Approximately 24% are refugees while 76 % are internally displaced people.](Global Post – 14/06/14).

Quarter of Djibouti population desperate for drought aid: United Nations: Nearly a quarter of the population in Djibouti is in desperate need of aid, with malnutrition and a dramatic lack of water causing a mass exodus from rural areas, the United Nations. The crisis, which has dragged on since 2010, has left 190,000 of the country's 850,000 residents in need of humanitarian assistance. 27,500 refugees, mainly from neighbouring Somalia, and 60,000 migrants -- most of them Ethiopians trying to reach the Gulf for work -- were also in need of aid inside Djibouti. (Sabahi Online – 13/06/14)

Eritrea 'desolate' - Catholic bishops: Four Eritrean Catholic bishops published a letter criticising life in the country - a rare move in one of the world's most tightly controlled states. The bishops describe the country as "desolate" because so many people had fled or were in prison or the army. (BBC News – 9/06/14)

Nearly 4,000 flee Eritrea each month, says UN: Brutal government repression and a system of forcing all citizens into decades of military conscription is driving nearly 4,000 Eritreans to flee every month, a UN expert said (Times of Israel 20/06/14)

Eritrea to Face UN Human Rights Investigation: The UN Human Rights Council has agreed to launch a year-long inquiry into human rights abuses in Eritrea, according to reports. The three-strong inquiry into "widespread and systematic" violations by Eritrea's government will be similar to previous investigations into Syria, North Korea and Sri Lanka. (International Business Times UK – 27/06/14)

Ethiopia hosts more than 565, 000 refugees: The Ethiopian Administration for Refugees and Returnees told reporters that currently Ethiopia hosts more than 563,000 refugees in 22 refugee camps. 240,000 refugees are from Somalia while refugees from South Sudan and Eritrean refugees constitute 181,000 and 95,000 respectively. In addition there are nearly 40,000 Sudanese refugees in Benishangul Gumuz Regional State and around 3,000 thousand from Kenya around Borena in Oromia Regional state (Reliefweb/Government of Ethiopia – 20/06/14)

UNHCR clarification on Guardian article: In an article entitled 'Europe faces 'colossal humanitarian catastrophe' of refugees dying at sea' published on 2 June by The Guardian, UNHCR is paraphrased as saying the UN is considering Africa holding centres for asylum-seekers trying to reach Europe using irregular sea crossings. UNHCR is not considering "holding centres" as an alternative to address the challenges of refugees and migrants risking their lives at sea. (UNHCR – 3/06/14)

Italy Copes with Over 40,000 Boat Arrivals in 2014: The number of migrants who have managed to reach Italy from North Africa since the beginning of 2014 is almost equal to the total number of arrivals in 2013. In 2013, 42,000 migrants risked crossing the Mediterranean – mainly from Libya – on often unseaworthy boats and reached Italy, compared with over 40,000 in the first five months of this year. (IOM News – 3/06/14)

Italy, Malta say 'forgotten' by EU over migrant influx: Italy and Malta said they had been "forgotten" by Europe amid a massive influx of migrants. Italian, Maltese and US ships were involved in a vast operation to rescue migrants packed in 25 vessels on their way from Libyan shores, part of a sharp increase in arrivals because of improved weather. Malta describes the coordination as the "biggest" search and rescue operation in recent year. (AFP – 09/06/14).

EU should share out refugees rescued at sea – UNHCR: European Union countries should help Italy absorb the huge number of migrants arriving by boat from North Africa, by agreeing to take in people rescued in international waters, says a U.N. refugee agency spokeswoman. (Reuters – 13/06/4)

Immediate protection for 4 out of 5 asylum seekers: Four out of every five migrants who applied for asylum in Malta last year were granted immediate protection, meaning the island had the second highest percentage of positive asylum decisions in the EU. This high rate of positive decisions was due to the fact that the bulk of those granted protection status were from war-torn countries: 665 from Somalia, 550 from Eritrea and 270 from Syria. (Times of Malta – 20/06/14)

EU draft urges more focus on growth, jobs: The draft summit document compiled by the European Council President in consultation with Italy, the next country to hold the rotating EU presidency, marks an effort to encourage the bloc as a whole to assume more responsibility for the southern Mediterranean migrant crisis faced mainly by Italy, Malta, Greece and Spain. (Reuters – 23/06/14)

Ecosoc president supports Italy, Malta call on migration: The president of the EU Economic and Social Council has called on the EU to give greater financial support to the Mare Nostrum humanitarian operation, which is financed by the Italian government. The operation was launched last year in the wake of a series of tragedies related to irregular migration (Times of Malta – 24/06/14)

Italy Seeks EU Funds as Migrant Flood Rises: Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is expected to press his European Union counterparts for more help this week in coping with what is set to be a record number of migrant arrivals this year. His chances of success are slim. (25/06/14)

Clearer EU rules for unaccompanied minors seeking international protection: The European Commission is proposing to clarify which Member State is responsible for examining applications made by unaccompanied minors. The proposal will, in particular, improve the situation of those minor applicants for international protection who have no family, siblings or relatives on the EU territory. Last year, 12 690 unaccompanied minors submitted an asylum application in the EU. (European Commission Press Release Database – 26/06/14)

'Norway minister threatens to deport Eritrean migrants': The Norwegian Deputy justice minister visited Eritrea for talks over repatriation of 500 migrants (who were found not to have asylum claims) amid fears Norway is a soft touch for asylum seekers. In 2013, the overall number of Eritreans applying to Norway soared by 148%, comprising 27% of its asylum applicants. (The Guardian – 27/06/14)

Italy finds 30 bodies in migrant boat: The Italian navy has found about 30 bodies in a fishing boat carrying hundreds of migrants between Sicily and the North African coast. The migrants who died appeared to have been asphyxiated. The navy says that over the weekend it rescued more than 5,000 migrants trying to cross from North Africa. (BBC – 30/06/14)

Asylum seeker thrown out of detention center after stroke: An asylum seeker from Sudan who suffered a stroke in Holot detention center was forced to wait three days before being taken to a hospital. When he was sent back two weeks later, the detention center threw him out instead of offering the medication and rehabilitation he needed. (Haaretz – 6/06/14)

Year-long TA ‘sting’ nets dozens of African migrant: For the past year a Beduin policeman lived undercover in south Tel Aviv running a bar for African migrants and slowly recording dozens of drug, property and violent crimes committed in the streets and alleyways of South Tel Aviv. The undercover operation came to an end with the arrest of dozens of African migrants in a raid at his bar. [It is unclear what the migrants were being arrested for].(Jerusalem Post – 8/06/14)

Judge slams Israeli police for detaining African asylum seekers: A court has frozen orders to report to the Holot detention facility handed to 13 Eritrean and Sudanese asylum seekers. If the orders and the detention are implemented now, all the [asylum seekers] will be severely harmed while limiting their freedom and uprooting from all that is familiar to them. Until then, the court ordered the Government to issue them with residence permits until their appeal to report to Holot is heard. (Haaretz – 9/06/14)

Asylum seekers at Israeli detention facility to launch new protest: African asylum seekers at the Holot detention facility in the western Negev are expected to launch protest measures to demand their release, promising to fight until they reach a satisfactory solution. To date there are 2,400 people in Holot about 70 percent are Sudanese citizens and the rest are Eritreans. (Haaretz – 16/06/14)

Israel hesitant to give African refugees asylum: African immigrants, most of them refugees, are continually being denied asylum in Israel. Israel is now also unlawfully detaining asylum seekers, in opposition to international human rights standards (The International – 17/06/14)

Asylum seekers sent to detention entitled to severance pay: The Finance Ministry has determined that asylum seekers who leave jobs in Israel to emigrate or report to the Holot detention facility are entitled to severance pay. This applies even if they were employed while in possession of documentation that prohibited them from working. This decision affects large majority of Eritrean and Sudanese asylum-seekers. (Haaretz – 18/06/14)

Protesting Israel's policies, hundreds of asylum seekers attempt to cross into Egypt: Hundreds of African asylum seekers left an open detention center in southern Israel and began marching toward a nearby border crossing with Egypt. The group said it wishes to cross into Egypt in light of the government's policies on asylum seekers. Security forces prevented the group from reaching the border crossing, claiming the asylum seekers were entering a closed military zone. (Haaretz – 27/06/14) [For more pictures and details of the march to the Egyptian border and the clash between African asylum-seekers with the Israeli Defence Force soldiers click here].

Illegal African Immigrants Declare Hunger Strike: Hundreds of illegal African immigrants began a hunger strike on Monday after Israeli police forcibly broke up a sit in they were staging along the Egyptian border. Around 1,000 infiltrators, mostly from Eritrea and Sudan, had marched Friday to the border and set up a makeshift camp to protest against their "inhuman and unlimited" detention at Holot facility. (Israel National News – 30/06/14)

KENYA:

Refugees, refugee camps, and displacement.

Medics raise concern over MDRTB cases in Dadaab: Health experts are raising concern about the many cases of Multi-drug resistant TB in Dadaab refugee camp. Maureen Kamene from the health ministry says eight new cases are recorded at the camp each month. Medics further say due to the conflict in Somalia, many refugees with the TB strain are forced to stop treatment, creating a further resistance. (The Star – 3/06/14)

Kenya turns up the heat on Somali refugees: Since Kenya’s Interior Ministry launched Operation Usalama Watch in late March, purportedly as an anti-terrorism operation, more than 4,000 individuals are estimated to have been arrested and detained, most of them ethnic Somalis living in the Nairobi suburb of Eastleigh. A further 2,000 refugees have been sent to Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps while 359 Somalis have been deported to Somalia by air using chartered commercial airlines flying from Nairobi to Mogadishu since early April. (IRIN news – 4/06/14)

Refugees blamed for logging and poaching: speaking at World Environment Day, a Kenyan official said that the socio-environmental activities of refugees residing in camps in Garissa County have contributed to massive environmental degradation. According to the official, Garissa's ecosystem in danger of collapse due to the refugees’ "continued dependence on the fragile environment for food and fuel." (The Star – 08/06/14).

Thousands of new refugees (asylum seekers) in Northern Kenya: UNHCR says between April 14 2014, when registration of refugees resumed, and May 31 2014, a total of 5,088 refugees and 701 asylum seekers were registered in the Dadaab camps. Since the first forceful relocation of urban refugees on April, UNHCR said it has received more than 600 persons in Dadaab. In addition, an unknown number of refugees who had left Dadaab for urban areas came back to the camps voluntarily and reunified with their family and relatives residing in the camps," it said. (Xinhua – 8/06/14).

First Lady meets Qatar donors: Kenya’s First Lady met delegations from the office of the spouse of former Emir of Qatar and the United Nations who briefed her on an education project worth more than Sh1.4 billion targeting Turkana County.The project will benefit refugees in Kakuma refugee camp as well as the host community (The Presidency, official website for the Kenyan President – 11/06/14)

Somali prime minister calls for protection of refugees in Kenya: Somali Prime Minister called on the Kenyan government to protect the rights of Somali refugees while conducting security operations in the country. The Prime Minister thanked Kenya for hosting Somali refugees for more than 20 years, but expressed his concern over the security sweep in April during which the Kenyan government arrested thousands of Somalis and deported more than 300 people. With regard to the Tripartite Agreement, the Prime Minister said a conference will be held soon in Mogadishu or Nairobi to discuss the implementation of the agreement. (Sabahi Online – 19/06/14)

Kenyan police operation leaves 300 children stranded: Kenya continues to round up and detain refugees, migrants and asylum-seekers in a controversial anti-terrorism operation, fears are mounting over the fate of around 300 children separated from parents arrested during the sweeps. Some of these children are reported to be held in a Nairobi stadium used as a temporary detention facility, without a parent or guardian. (IRIN news 20/06/14)

South Sudanese streams into Kenya despite peace deal: UNHCR said 905 South Sudanese have fled into Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee camp over two weeks although a peace agreement has been signed in Addis Ababa earlier this month. As of June 25, the number of South Sudanese asylum seekers received was 39,180, bringing the total estimated camp population to 170, 965. The number is beyond Kakuma refugee camp's 150,000 capacity. (Global Post – 27/06/14)

Immigration control

Kenyan police investigating attack on truck carrying Ethiopian 'illegal immigrants': Kenyan police are investigating possible motives behind an ambush on a vehicle transporting alleged illegal immigrants from Ethiopia and other passengers in Wajir County in the north east of Kenya. Of the two people killed one was of Ethiopian nationality. The surviving Ethiopian men (49) were arrested and are to be arraigned in court for being in the country illegally. (Sabahionline – 09/06/14).

LIBYA

Libyan coastguard detains 114 African migrants in packed boat: Libya's coastguard detained 114 African migrants in a packed boat headed for Europe. Libyan officials said that they were arrested as the authorities carried out patrols. The migrants were from sub-Saharan Africa and most were reportedly from Senegal. (Reuters – 5/06/14)

Ten migrants drown after boat sinks off Libya: Ten migrants drowned after the boat they were traveling in sank off the Libyan coast. Italy’s navy and coastal guard rescued 39 during the operation. The nationalities of those rescued/perished were not released. (Reuters – 14/06/14)

Qatar pledges to protect migrant workers’ rights: During Qatar’s attendance of the 26th Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva, it reaffirmed that it is committed to the protection and promotion of human rights, including the rights of migrant workers, and that it values the contributions of expatriate workforce and considers them as true partners in the development of the State. Qatar recently announced that it is intending to initiate sweeping changes to further promote and protect the rights of migrant workers. Areas of reform include: the sponsorship system; exit visas; withholding of passports; employment contract; and labour law. (Gulf Times – 14/06/14)

SAUDI ARABIA

Kenyan girl stranded in Saudi Arabia: The parents of a 20-year-old Kenyan woman allegedly being held in Saudi Arabia have petitioned the Government to intervene and have her brought back home. (The Standard – 19/06/14) According to a report by The Standard the woman has since been returned to Kenya. She said she underwent mental torture, sex abuse, detention and rejection at the hands of both Saudi authorities and her employers during her one-month ordeal.

SOMALIA

Somali prime minister calls for protection of refugees in Kenya: Somali Prime Minister called on the Kenyan government to protect the rights of Somali refugees while conducting security operations in the country. The Prime Minister thanked Kenya for hosting Somali refugees for more than 20 years, but expressed his concern over the security sweep in April during which the Kenyan government arrested thousands of Somalis and deported more than 300 people. With regard to the Tripartite Agreement, the Prime Minister said a conference will be held soon in Mogadishu or Nairobi to discuss the implementation of the agreement. (Sabahi Online – 19/06/14)

Fragile State Index 2014: After six years in the number one position, Somalia moves down to the second most fragile state in the world, according to the Fund for Peace most recent Fragile State Index. Although the country does appear to be on a slow trajectory of improvement – and there is cause for some hope - Somalia continues to endure widespread lawlessness, ineffective government, terrorism, insurgency, crime, and abysmal development. (Reliefweb/Fund for Peace – 24/06/14).

Aid agencies help 11,000 displaced Somalis return home: A consortium of UNHCR led aid agencies said they have supported about 11,000 internally displaced Somalis to voluntarily return home since mid-2012. The consortium said that "despite large-scale returns to many parts of Somalia are not possible at the moment, there is general recognition of the fact that solutions to protracted large-scale displacement will be an integral element of sustainable peace in Somalia”. (Reliefweb - 26/06/14)

Conflict and Late Rains Drives Thousands from their Homes in Somalia: The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, estimates that approximately 50,000 people fled their homes between March and May. The largest reported driver of the population movements is conflict. However, as the months go on, the number of people leaving their villages due to drought rises dramatically, from just 90 in March to 1,200 in May. The pattern disturbingly resembles what happened three years ago when Somalia succumbed to famine. (Thomson Reuters Foundation – 30/06/14)

SOUTH AFRICA:

Government and police failing to protect Somali refugees from deadly attacks: According to Amnesty International, attacks on Somali-owned shops in and around a Pretoria township over the last six days have cost lives and livelihoods and are part of a disturbing trend of violence against refugees and migrants which the police and government are failing to address. (Amnesty International Press Release– 12/06/14).

Fragile State Index 2014: According to the Fund for Peace’s recent index, South Sudan is the most fragile state in the world. The country’s independence, while initially giving cause for celebration, is now giving only cause for concern as its politics and leadership grows increasingly fractious, and mass killings – especially targeting specific ethnic groups – gains momentum. (Reliefweb/Fund for Peace - 24/06/14)

Sudanese refugees in South Sudan caught between two wars: Some 126,000 Sudanese refugees housed in four camps in Maban County, Upper Nile State, are caught between an intensifying war in their homeland and the fighting that broke out in December. The South Sudanese conflict has throttled the supply of food to Sudanese refugees in the remote northeast of the country, fuelling tensions and hunger that have triggered a deadly crime wave and prompted thousands to return to the war-zone from which they fled. (IRIN – 25/06/14)

Update from the UN Mission in South Sudan: As of 25 June 2014, the estimated number of civilians seeking safety in ten Protection of Civilians (PoC) sites located on UNMISS bases is 101,333, including 45,769 in Bentiu, 31,840 in Juba (Tomping and UN House), 18,003 in Malakal, 4,123 in Bor, 558 in Wau, 984 in Melut, 27 in Nasser, and 29 in Rumbek. (Reliefweb – 26/06/14)

Refugees Welcome WFP's Cash Option in Uganda: WFP recently began their first cash distributions. Its objective in giving a cash option is to empower the refugees in meeting their families’ food and nutrition needs. WFP expects that the refugees will embrace the new mode of assistance gradually after years of receiving food only. WFP is supporting an estimated 300,000 refugees in Uganda, mostly from South Sudan and DRC. (World Food Programme – 19/06/14)

Refugees Boost Local Economy: A new study says refugees do not have to be a burden on a host country’s resources. In fact, they can actually help boost the local economy if given the chance. (Voice of America – 20/06/14). [The study, ‘Refugee Economies: Rethinking popular assumptions’, is available on the RMMS website. An IRIN News article on the study is available here]

Irish ambassador hails Uganda refugee policy: The Irish ambassador to Uganda, has hailed Uganda’s refugee policy, describing it as unmatched and the friendliest in the world. Uganda hosts thousands of refugees, as a result of cross-border conflict, most especially from the neighbouring countries, specifically the Democratic Republic of Congo. Other refugees hail from Burundi, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Rwanda, Somalia and South Sudan (28/06/14)

Eritrean refugees stranded in Yemen: An estimated 216 refugees, including 15 women and 18 children, are camping in Sana’a. They claim that they are at risk of being kidnapped by Eritrean government authorities and forcibly returned to Eritrea. (Al Jazeera – 22/06/14)

Prosecute officials for abusing migrants [Opinion]: In May 2014, Human Rights Watch issued a report detailing how traffickers abuse African migrants in isolated desert camps, with the complicity of Yemeni officials. After extensive public discussion, the Yemeni government on June 6 began a series of raids on the traffickers’ “torture camps” in the desert. By June 13, the authorities had released 92 migrants and arrested 16 traffickers, according to a public statement issued by the International Organization for Migration. These raids are a good first step, but they are only a band-aid, not a long-term solution, for the deep wound of official corruption. (Yemen Times – 26/06/14)

ZIMBABWE

Trafficking in persons bill signed: President Mugabe has assented to the Trafficking in Persons Bill that seeks to domesticate the protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially of women and children. Zimbabwe is a signatory to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and the Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons. (The Herald – 14/06/14)

Zimbabwe detains 37 illegal Ethiopian immigrants: Zimbabwean police have detained 37 Ethiopians who were arrested trying to enter neighbouring South Africa. Police said the Ethiopians were intercepted aboard a South Africa bound bus. Last year, Zimbabwean police also arrested scores of Ethiopians for entering the country through illegal entry points. (Daily Nation – 23/06/14)

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